New test predicts Alzheimer's disease up to 9 years before symptoms appear

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have developed a new method for predicting dementia with over 80% accuracy, up to nine years before diagnosis. This method surpasses traditional memory tests and brain shrinkage measurements. Led by Professor Charles Marshall, the team used functional MRI (fMRI) scans to analyze changes in the brain's default mode network (DMN), which is the first network affected by Alzheimer's disease.

Using fMRI scans from over 1,100 volunteers in the UK Biobank, the researchers estimated the connectivity between ten brain regions within the DMN. They assigned a probability of dementia based on connectivity patterns, comparing predictions to the medical data. The model accurately predicted dementia onset up to nine years in advance, with greater than 80% accuracy, and could predict the time to diagnosis within a two-year margin.

The study also found that genetic risk for Alzheimer's and social isolation were associated with changes in the DMN. This method could revolutionize early dementia detection and intervention, providing a non-invasive biomarker for dementia risk assessment. Professor Marshall emphasized the potential for developing treatments to prevent the irreversible loss of brain cells, highlighting the importance of precise prediction for early intervention.